Nils Olav
Coordinates: 55°56′40″N 3°16′20″W / 55.94444°N 3.27222°W / 55.94444; -3.27222
| Sir Nils Olav | |
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Sir Nils Olav |
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| Born | Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland |
| Allegiance | Norway |
| Service/branch | Norwegian Army |
| Years of service | 1972 – current |
| Rank | Colonel-in-Chief & mascot |
| Unit | Hans Majestet Kongens Garde |
Colonel-in-Chief Sir Nils Olav is a King Penguin living in Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland. He is the mascot and Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian Royal Guard. Nils was visited by soldiers from the Norwegian Royal Guard on 15 August 2008 and awarded a knighthood. The honour was approved by the king of Norway, King Harald V. During the ceremony a crowd of several hundred people joined the 130 guardsmen at the zoo to hear a citation from King Harald the Fifth of Norway read out, which described Nils as a penguin "in every way qualified to receive the honour and dignity of knighthood". The name 'Nils Olav' has also been given to two other King Penguins who preceded the current Nils Olav as the King's Guard's mascot.
Read more about Nils Olav: Role in The Military